Supermarket meat departments rely on mixers and grinders to process and prepare a variety of meat products efficiently, ensuring consistent texture and flavor while allowing for the creation of fresh ground meats, sausages and customized blends that meet customer’s rigorous demands.

“As with many other industries, finding skilled labor for grocery retail meat departments can be challenging,” said Hasan Amin, product line manager for Hobart. “Having high-quality equipment that is easy to use and easy to clean can help make the most of the available labor and support proper food safety standards.”

Today’s manufacturers of mixers and grinders designed for these grocery retail meat departments are continuously adapting to create safer, more ergonomic equipment that enables clients to reduce labor costs and comply with food safety standards.

“Today’s newer models have more safety precautions and are made with stainless steel,” said Jerry Kittelson, sales manager for Vancouver, Wash.-based ABM Equipment. “The older machines had cast iron grinder bowls and augers which detach for cleaning and have now been upgraded for longer life and improved cleaning and food protection.”

Among other recent innovations in mixer and grinding equipment are smart sensors that monitor the grinding process in real-time, ensuring consistent texture and quality while reducing waste; adjustable heights and user-friendly controls that reduce physical strain on employees during operation; and energy-efficient motors that position retailers to meet more eco-friendly demands.

What’s available

The Hollymatic stainless steel Model 180A has been an industry standard for more than 50 years. Tailored for high-volume supermarkets, the mixer-grinder effectively creates uniform mixtures of ground meat products. It features a 200-pound capacity swing-open hopper and a removable grinding head assembly for easy cleaning, along with a safety interlocked counterbalanced lid. The company continues to make improvements on the model and it’s one of the most popular out there today.

Hobart has its MG1532, MG2032 and 4246 mixer-grinders in its product offering for grocery retail meat departments and butcher shops. Each feature the Hobart-exclusive Stay-Sharp knives and plates.

“The knives’ alloy steel construction holds an edge longer than competitive mixer-grinders that have carbon steel knives,” Amin said. “Plus, the operator can re-sharpen them multiple times. That saves time and money for replacing knives.”

Other top features include large ergonomic hoppers that offer large capacity for mixing and grinding and make it faster and easier for the operator to load. They also feature an electrical interlock switch to provide operator assurance.

“The mixer-grinders shut off power to the mixer when the hopper lid is opened,” Amin said. “The operator must put the hopper lid in the correct operating position before the motor will start.”

Both the MG1532 and MG2032 mixer-grinders offer a 7.5 HP grind motor and a 1 HP mix motor, making them well suited to high-volume mixing and grinding of hamburger meat for sausages, meatballs and more. The MG1532 mixer grinder has a 150-pound capacity and the MG2032 has a 200-pound capacity and features a double wall construction and ships standard with a pneumatic foot control that simplifies operation.

“These mixer-grinders mix and grind meat without mashing it, for higher quality output, and can be paired with a variety of plates to gain specific textures,” Amin said. “The MG1532 and MG2032 mixer-grinders have intuitive controls that make it simpler for employees of varying skill sets to operate and include features that expedite thorough cleaning. Both mixer-grinders have smooth weld seams, which reduce the opportunity for meat scraps to settle in the seams and cause foodborne illnesses.”

These smooth seams also speed cleaning, so available labor can focus on other tasks. The removable mix arm, conveyor screw, cylinder and conveyor-screw drive-shaft seal allow for complete cleaning and sanitizing.

ABM Equipment offers seven sizes in all, from 50-pound capacity tabletop mixer-grinders to 660-pound capacities with the added option of a loading hoist and bin.

“The smaller models have an option of adding a bulker which is what makes the loaves of ground beef for easy packaging on the Styrofoam plates you see in your meat case at the supermarket,” Kittelson said. “The 175 and 180 mixer-bulkers can be set up as a ‘Gemini’ system where one mixes and feeds the second one for grinding so you don’t have to mix, empty and then reload for grinding. There is also a 1090 automatic feed grinder which can be used to feed the larger mixer-grinder for the final grind. If using two mixer-grinders connected, they can also operate individually as standalone units increasing the output when needed.”

ABM Equipment’s most popular model is the 180A mixer grinder, as it fits most supermarket meat and poultry departments with a mix size of 200 pounds or smaller batches.

“Larger supermarkets and industrial processors use the 3000 Mixer-Grinder up to the 4300 Mixer-Grinder, for hopper sizes for 300 to 660-pound capacity,” Kittelson said.

Maintenance matters

Many supermarkets have equipment where the customers can see it, and because older equipment gets worse and worse over time slowly, ownership doesn’t perceive how bad it’s gotten and has no idea how terrible it looks.

Kittelson noted that today’s equipment, when properly cared for, can last for decades, so for supermarkets that have old equipment, it’s important to upgrade to meet any new regulations of food safety and working safety guards and switches.

“Old equipment at times has been modified to keep working if breakdowns or equipment components have broken down; it is for this reason we do not work on or repair modified equipment or components as it is less expensive to purchase new, properly operating equipment,” he said. “It is important for people to have modern equipment because it’s safer, you reduce the risk of contamination, you reduce the risk of being shut down by the USDA, and it looks better.”

Maintenance of today’s mixers and grinders are not only easier than ever before, but better ensures safety by making certain that all safety features are functioning correctly, thereby reducing the risk of accidents during operation.

Regular maintenance also enhances efficiency, allowing the machines to operate at optimal performance levels, which results in higher production rates and minimal waste — ultimately leading to cost savings.

Maintenance for Hobart’s MG1532 and MG2032 mixer-grinders is minimal, since both motor bearings are pre-lubricated and sealed, and no additional lubrication is necessary.

“The gear case for the mixing arm and the gear case for the worm should be lubricated annually or as needed,” Amin said. “Operators can contact Hobart service to complete this lubrication maintenance.”

To keep units in the best shape, Kittelson noted to clean it after each use and lubricate parts every 1-6 months depending on what it is. For example, the sprocket, chain, and clutch will ideally be lubricated every month, and the motor and reducer will be lubricated every 6 months.

“It’s very easy to do this, as all you need to do is either remove the bowl or take off the side panel, which you do with a screwdriver,” he said. “The equipment can be operated easily by one person in most cases, for speed you would want a second for keeping a continuous workflow when needed. We offer training for set up and operating, but in most cases the existing staff of the purchaser has more experience operating the equipment in their process.”

Most of the top mixer-grinders available for supermarkets today help improve productivity and maximize labor since they eliminate the need to mix and grind separately. They have features that provide operator assurance, so operators feel confident using them.